In October 1777, nearly two years after completing his five violin concertos, Mozart, himself a highly accomplished violinist, gave a performance as soloist of Vanˇhal’s Violin Concerto in B flat to ‘universal applause’. This impressive concerto, one of seventeen by one of the most prolific and popular Viennese composers of the late 18th century, is coupled with two other works also written before 1772. All three are marked by elegantly sculpted lines calling for precision, beauty of tone and consummate musicianship. The slow movements are beautifully tailored to exploit the lyrical qualities of the violin, while the last movements demonstrate a strong kinship with the driving finales of Vanˇhal’s Symphonies (Naxos 8.554341, 8.554138 and 8.557483).

Johann Baptist Vanhal (AKA Wanhal) was a contemporary of Hayden. While well known and respected during his time, his work is not as well known by contemporary audiences. This album includes three of his violin concertos, by soloist Takako Nishizaki with the Cologne Chamber Orchestra. Each of the three concertos are beautifully performed, with a warm and light touch to the solo performances. The Cologne Chamber Orchestra is very strong as well, perfectly complementing the soloist. The three concertos are simply masterful. The technical recording of the album is also very well done, and all the music lines come through clearly and in balance. To my ear, Vanhal’s melody lines are somewhat reminiscent of Vivaldi, another of my favorites. his album will please enthusiasts of the classical age.

Interestingly, Nishizaki was the daughter of one of the co-founders of the Suzuki Method of music instruction. As one might suspect, her career began as a young child, first performing at the age of 5, and she has been highly successful ever since. So I guess the Suzuki Method works.

Naxos follows up its series of Vanhal symphonies with his excellent disc of three of his 17 Violin Concertos. As a close contemporary of Haydn, Vanhal was among the leading composers of his day, described as playing in a string quartet with Haydn, Mozart and Dittersdorf. The most celebrated of these unpretentious works is the B flat Concerto, which Mozart is recorded as having played, alongside his own K.216. The writing involves little virtuosity, but it never flags in its easy energy, with opening movements relaxed rather than thrusting and lively music restricted to the finales. Takako Nishizaki gives a modern-instrument performance with fresh, clean intonation, very well accompanied by the Cologne Chamber Orchestra under Müller-Brühl. First-rate sound.

Vanhal was one of the most prolific and popular composers of the late 18th century, with seventeen violin concertos to his credit. Mozart was among his admirers and performed his works in concert. Veteran violinist Takako Nishizaki plays these lovely works with assurance and stylishness. Kudos are also due to Klaus Heymann for reviving the venerable music publishing house of Artaria, which since 1778 had published the works of Haydn, Boccherini, Mozart and Beethoven, among others active in 18th c. Vienna.

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